Early ruling on sea row sought

Resigned Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has called on the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands to issue a ruling soon on the complaint filed by the Philippines against China over disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“Recent developments on the ground as a result of Chinese unilateral conduct of test flights, island-building activities and constructions, and challenges on freedom of navigation, overflight operations, and ongoing militarization, not to mention their still continuing prevention of Filipino fishermen from plying their trade at the Scarborough Shoal area, have seriously heightened tensions and further highlight the urgency of an early promulgation of the decision,” del Rosario told businessmen and members of the diplomatic corps in a recent gathering in Makati City.